THE COPERIAN CHRONICLES: THE ENDS OF ETERNITY
There is a journey to be taken, one unlike anything seen before in the last of Xevon. So soon after the end of the years long war against the undead, new troubles form and bubble up from the shadows, threatening to destroy everyone and everything before they will even know what is happening. And yet, among the chaos one small group rises forth, standing in defiance against what fate has decided for them and for the people of Coperia.
Can they write a new story for themselves, and rally against the course they have been laid upon, or will the darkness swallow them as it has so many others before them?
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Welcome to the new home of The Coperian Chronicles: The Ends of Eternity.
The adventure into the darkness among worlds has taken a turn towards becoming a play by post game. And I know many of you are new to these sorts of games, particularly doing them through the Paizo boards, so I bet you’re wondering “what now”?
Here's some things you should be doing now that TEoE is converting to play by post, paraphrased and adjusted from a post originally by Robert Brookes, aka Lucent
Character Sheets
The Disucssion thread has information on how to turn your character sheet into something formatted best for a play by post:
This, to me, is the one somewhat complicated step for someone not familiar with PbP on the Paizo forums - creating a character sheet that is visible to the player, DM, and other players. It's actually not that hard, but involves several steps, which are as follows:
1) Once you've logged into your account, find the "My Account" link at the top of the page, and click it.
2) Once on the "My Account" page, you should see several boxes of information. Scroll to "Messageboard Aliases", where you should see a button that says "Create New Alias". Click that.
3) For "Avatar Name", use the name of your character. For your Avatar's... well, avatar, click "Change" and pick any one you can find that seems appropriate. The Paizo forums don't, at this time, allow for custom portraits, but that's fine. You can always link one in the actual character sheet or on the wiki. Once you have these set, click "Submit" (don't worry about any of the faction business on the page).
4) You'll be taken back to your account page. Navigate back to the "Messageboard Aliases" box, and click on the name of your account's new alias. You'll be take to part of that Alias' profile. From there, click on the profile tab, and then click "Create a profile".
5) Here's the hard part. Fill in all of the basic information ICly, and then in the "About" section, you will need to put your character's stat block, background, personality, ect. An example of how this looks can be found here.
I know that looks daunting. It was for me, definitely. If you can't wrap your head around it, link me to your character sheet and I'll whip it into a stat block for you to post. I know it's a bit of a pain in the ass, but ultimately it makes things so much easier for anyone who looks at a sheet to reference things quickly.
Also be sure wile you work to constantly be previewing or submitting your work to save it, as if neither of these is done within a certain amount of time, the Paizo forums will time your post out and none of your work will be saved.
Once you're done, just hit submit one last time, and bam! You have your character sheet and alias done. Any time you go to post in The Ends of Eternity, you'll see a little box at the bottom of the text box that says "Post as", there you can set it so that it posts as your character alias. You'll have to do this every time you post unless you make your character alias your default alias, which isn't a terrible idea if you aren't in any other games on the forums.
If you need any help with this, just ask. Like I said, I know it's a pain, but it really does help.
Once you’ve done this, please make a note of it in the discussion thread, just so I can know.
Check Out Roll20.net
If you don't already have one, you should go make an account over at roll20.net and familiarize yourself with the site and all it has to offer. You can sign-up to TEoE as well to be listed as a player and fool-around on the map as well. We will be using rd20 for combat maps in the future.
To join the campaign, once you've signed up at roll20.net, follow this link: https://app.roll20.net/join/144318/znZyVw
Art and Sound Crawl!
As I have notedin this past, part of the goal with this game is create a presentation and atmosphere evocative of television and anime. As such, there are a number of things that I tend to assign to all my NPCs – a picture to represent their likeness, a choice voice usually picked from a well known voice actor to be their, well, voice, and a song to be their theme. I generally recommend that all my players do this as well – it can be a lot of fun, as well as help further flesh out your character. It’s not a requirement, but it’s encouraged.
I will be making personalized character icons for use in combat, so at the very least if you would like a piece of artwork to represent your character than feel free to take some time trawling places like deviantart and cgsociety for something appropriate. Otherwise just pick a color and I'll use that color for your icon.
Picking Up Where We Left Off
So, we left off in the middle of an episode, didn't we? No worries. The next post will be the entire episode so far, to kick off the transition into a play by post format, from there the players will continue to pose their characters as normal,as if it were a normal Tuesday session – except rather than spending two hours in a doc, they pose here at their leisure.
As well, there is a good chance we will have one, possibly two, new players joining the gorup to fill out the rest of the player ranks. For their benefit, summaries of the first two episodes follow:
Episode One - "No Danger"
On an increasingly stormy evening the Magic Academy City of Sheol, four strangers meet at a crossroads - a monk named Lyri Vidar; Yuladra, also a monk; a local alchemist and entrepreneur known as Naomi Jespen; and a Seollian priestess named Elisabeth DiMedich. The meeting is unsettling, each collided together - in one case, almost literally, seemingly by happenstance. A crash of thunder and a bolt of lightning across the sky, however, irrevocably brings them together, as the ground below them abruptly crumbles and gives way, tumbling them down into a blank, inky abyss for everyone in the streets to see.
When all four come to, they find themselves in an underground complex of some sort, with a caved in wall to their back and a path forward ahead of them. Beset by strange automatons, they soon discover strange, almost invisible creatures held within tubes. What could be going on beneath the school, if that's where they truly are?
Unfortunately, they are unable to investigate further before the sound of a gunshot rings out, hurrying them to the aid of gun brandishing redhead, seemingly at the mercy of several grey and indistinct humanoid creatures that have escaped from their tubes.
Episode Two - "Woke From Dreaming"
After assisting the woman in dispatching her attackers. the gunslinger introduces herself as Helena Darrow. Unable to remember how she came to be in the catacombs the others have found themselves in, she decides to tag along with them in hopes of finding a way out. What they end up finding instead, however, is a large room filled with the pods and tubes found previously, with a single broken glass casket on a alter. A man in a mask fiddles with it, accusing the group of breaking his things, and seemingly in retribution, unleashes a powerful golem on them. The golem is dispatched with only a bit of trouble, but the presence of a bomb within the creature further spurs them to find a new exit.
The discovery to an out of place blue door at the back of the room leads them to investigate, and it is discovered that the door is a portal elsewhere, and with little choice they each place their hands upon it and find themselves taken elsewhere.
Finding themselves in a large cavern seemingly entirely composed of a translucent blue crystal that is known to be a rare version of mirrorstone, they press on to discover that the cavern is part of what seems to be a network of caverns, as well as a strange, calming feeling washing over them. Finding another wall at the end of the hall, hands placed upon it reveals a small chamber, seemingly the source of the calming air.
Within, they find a strange sphere that, when held, turns into a music box - and plays a melody that seems hauntingly and oddly infuriatingly familiar to Elisabeth. Before much can be done to ponder this, again strange events beset the party - a white light building form a statue within the music box suddenly floods the room, once more transporting them to places unknown.
When their vision returns, Lyri, Naomi, and Yualdra find themselves before three ghostly figures, each beseeching them for their aid in combating a coming darkness. In exchange, the three offer to lend their strength to the trio. Lyri and Naomi accept the offer, with Yualdra refusing to put blind faith into the apparitions before her.
The three wake to find themselves in the Sheol infirmary., a week having passed since the ground swallowed them whole. Ashilyn Oreta, one of the headmistresses of Sheol, presses the group for information about their adventure, and when satisfied, allows the group to leave. Elisabeth, however, requests that the group of them get together at Naomi's shop before they set off on their separate ways.
Elisabeth makes her next intentions clear - to head north, to Axis, to see someone about pressing matters, and wishes for her four companions to travel at least that far with her, so they can help explain what happened and perhaps further piece together what happened. All agree, and the five set out for Axis.
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Beyond these summaries, inks to logs of the first two episodes can be found on the campaign information page
If, after reading this and the first few posts in the discussion thread, you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask in the discussion thread, and I’ll answer as promptly as I can.
- The Delgados, “Make Your Move”
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We all suffered through these days. It was inevitable. But even as the shadows twist and swirl around us, we stand strong. I am always impressed by the way that they soldier on, day after day. I wish I could be as strong as them, as confident as them. I wish I could have believed that everything was going to be alright, in the end. I think that alone would’ve made everything so much easier, so much more… simpler.
It’s unfortunate that if there’s any one thing I have learned in the last six years, it’s that thing can never be that simple, for whatever reason or another. And ultimately, it was for the best - for these experiences built the resolve we needed to face the Darkness.
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A bird flies overhead, blocking out the sun for a moment, before it dips down and flies past a small group travelling along a dirt road. Elisabeth turns her head as it passes by, looking up at it and smiling, before turning and looking at Noami next to her. Naomi laughs and pats the half elf on the back, a jovial expression on her face as she looks over at Yualdra and Lyri.
When cold winds are calling,
And the sky is clear and bright,
Misty mountains sing and beckon,
Lead me out into the light.
Standing a bit away from the group, Helena walks, a flat expression on her face. She turns and flips a coin through the air towards the others, only for it to be grabbed out of the air by Yua.
I will ride, I will fly,
Chase the wind and touch the sky,
I will fly,
Chase the wind and touch the sky.
A black haired woman in a white and blue dress holds a glowing blue sphere in her hands, offered out to the air in front of her. Her eyes open and tears fall down from them as she looks up ahead. A shadowy figure emerges out behind her, arms reaching and pulling the woman back into darkness.
Where dark woods hide secrets,
And mountains are fierce and bold,
Deep waters hold reflections,
Of times lost long ago.
Elisabeth holds a blurry picture close to her heart, eyes closed as she lets out a sigh and look up at the moon forlornly. The picture she holds burns away suddenly, leaving her reaching out frantically for the ashes. Behind her, a human man in white formal wear places a hand on her shoulder, head lowered in reverence as the sky burns away behind them.
I will hear their every story,
Take hold of my own dream,
Be as strong as the seas are stormy,
And proud as an eagle's scream.
A tall woman with rust coloured skin wanders through abandoned streets, hand tightening over the grip of a weathered cutlass as she looks up and around, spotting several pairs of red eyes watching her from shadowed windows She closes her eyes and lowers her head, taking a deep breath.
I will ride, I will fly,
Chase the wind and touch the sky,
I will fly,
Chase the wind and touch the sky.
Down a cave made of blue crystal walls , a solid blue shimmering wall sits, standing in mild contrast to the surrounding area. It seems solid at first, but as a hand reaches out to touch it, it suddenly ripples and swirls as if made of water. A sigil shaped like a keyhole appears, and then shatters.
And touch the sky.
The group stands together, eyes cast up at the clear night sky as motes of light float away on the wind. Each member of the group stands off their own way – Elisabeth sitting on a rock looking down at the earth, Lyri walking down the path as she looks ahead, Naomi standing at the path’s side, watching over the others, Yualdra sitting in the grass with her knees pulled up to her chest, and Helena looking up at the sky, one hand holding the opposite arm as she holds a elongated pistol at her side.
Chase the wind, chase the wind.
After a moment, Lyri turns back to the others and smiles, day breaking over the horizon. One by one, everybody looks up at the sun, and then at the path ahead. With varying levels of enthusiasm, they all rise and continue down the path ahead.
Touch the sky
“Make Your Move”
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It had been quiet, the last few days. Not much had been spoken the morning after Elisabeth’s request. In the opinion of the cleric, there was truthfully little to say on the matter - she was happy enough that her four companions had agreed to travel with Axis as it was. Her business there, it seemed, was much to important for her to tarry much longer than they already had, and with accounts settled for now in Sheol, they set off, headed northeast to Axis.
It wouldn’t be a straight shot. Their first stop was the city of Farwell, near the Yuronian/Firacian border. While the path wasn’t the most direct, it was the safest, as evidenced by the fact that they managed to make it all the way from Sheol to Farwell with little interruption - after everything that had happened in Sheol, it almost felt odd. Not even so much as a stray kobold seemed to dare bother the group in their travels, on horse or in camp. It helped make things quick, however.
An evening spent in Farwell led them onwards towards Westhaven, just southwest of Axis. Best known for the marshalling keep, predictably named Westhaven Keep, it marks the last and most well known military stronghold for Yuron. In the days following the Dark War, it sits mostly quiet, keeping just enough soldiers to maintain and defend the area, a far cry from the large and bustling military city it used to be.
But even despite that, the town seems bustling and busy. Wagons wait parked outside the keep gates, while soldiers jog and maneuver through the streets. The shouts of superior officers ring out and messengers run. If someone didn’t know better, they might think war exercises had started again. The presence of higher ranking Hammersmen standing at the gates, as well as the watch station being crowded, didn’t help matters much.
“I don’t rightly like this,” Helena says as the group walks past the town square, eyes locked on where a pair of Hammersmen talk with two dressed in the robes of the Silver Rose. She pulls her pistol up from her side, seeking to hide it beneath her green jacket.
Standing at the head of the group, Elisabeth stops, and looks towards the watch station. “It’s… odd. I couldn’t begin to figure out why the garrison is so active. I haven’t heard of anything from Axis that would indicate things have gone… sour.”
A hand rubs at her chin as she turns and looks back at the group. “I had planned to have us stay here the night, before heading to Axis. Is that still okay with everyone? Assuming the inn’s even still open…”
Naomi turned back from observing the hustle and bustle around them and nodded distractedly. “Fine with me.”
“Hmm?” Lyri glanced back to Elisabeth at the sound of her addressing them. She seemed more focused on keeping an eye on the Hammersmen more than anything, but Lis’ words make her turn back to them. “Well, I suppose the inn is still a good option, but I don’t have a very good feeling about this. We should stay on our toes.”
Helena nods emphatically, showing her agreement with Lyri. "It doesn't feel... right. Something feels off about this place, and I can't quite put my finger on it." There's a worried expression on her face as she looks around the square, eyeing the various soldiers. Two of them seem to be putting up a tent - judging from the runes and symbols across it, likely a medical tent of some sort.
"I don't disagree, but I'd rather not be out another night unless we have to be," Elisabeth retorts, her eyes settling on a building further down the block. "Yua, would you mind coming with me real quick? The rest of you, keep an ear out." She starts towards it, Yua in reluctant step behind her.
It's not hard to overhear some things said over the course of the next few minutes. Most of the conversation bleeds together - soldiers complaining about the sudden increase in exercises, a trader excited about the increased military presence and the effect it's having on sales, and even a pair of children wondering just as excitedly about what's going on lately. But there are a few choice things that stick out to Naomi in particular.
"More attacks last night, apparently. Erik practically paled when we were briefed earlier," one soldier says as he meets up with another not too far from the group.
"Yeah, we got the same briefing. Can't say I paid a ton of attention, it's the same thing every day. Shadows this, careful at night that. I think the hobgobs are just gettin' riled up and everyone's jumping at nothing," the other replies.
"Ha! Don't let the commander hear that. I heard Preator Dalen sent someone by to check it out more directly. Shining Hammer being here makes this really..." He trails off as the pair of soldiers start to walk off, headed towards the medical tent. Following them with her eyes, Naomi happens to catch glimpse again of the two dressed in Silver Rose robes - just in time for one of the, also surveying the crowd, to stop, use her hand to shield out the sun, and then turn to her fellow and tap him on the shoulder, pointing seemingly right at Naomi.
Quickly, but not roughly, Naomi grabbed Lyri’s arm and turned her around as she herself half-turned, leaving her profile visible in the crowd and watching out of the corner of her eye. “It’s those two from Sheol, the Silver Rose.” The alchemist explained quickly as Lyri started to protest, then added for clarity as she realized the others might not recognize the name: “The ones who were trying to interrogate us. What in Elyzia’s name are they doing here?” She hissed, continuing to walk slowly.
Lyri’s turned easily enough with a tiny look of annoyance but the comment about the two Silver Rose figures causes her to follow along with Naomi, looking the other direction. “That’s an odd coincidence. Which means it wasn’t a coincidence and it’s likely they were following us. Or maybe they had an idea we’d come here.”
”Following us? I doubt it; we would have already been confronted if so...but perhaps following the same trail.” Naomi glanced back at the tent again then back to Helena.
Helena offers a small shrug, looking past Naomi while trying not to make it obvious she knows that the pair is there. “I dunno,” she replies simply. “That guy seemed like…. if he wanted t’ know somethin’, he wouldn’t bother with just following us…” She trails off, frowning as she nudges Naomi. Both can see that the pair are headed in their direction now - they were definitely pointed at with purpose. “You realise if we run an’ they suspect us of somethin’, it’ll just look worse, right?”
“Don’t run,” Naomi agreed as the pair approached.
Lyri chuckled dryly. “You can follow people for other reasons than just confronting someone.” She glances between her other two companions. “Either way, they know we’re here. The question is, do we keep going or do we stand here and wait to see what they want?”
With still no sign of Elisabeth, Helena remains silent, shirking back a bit from the others as the pair approaches. The man has a smile on his face, while the woman looks somewhat dour, hands hidden beneath her blue cloak. She glances up to him, threading blond hair back behind her ears. "Well, so much for that surprise," she says more than a bit sarcastically.
The man rolls his eyes in response to his cohort, offering the collected group a a grin. "Well, I guess I got my shot at making an entrance already then, just like you hoped," he retorts, as he stops short of the group, offering a small bow. "Hello ladies! I hope I'm not bothering you. We happened to see you from across the way, and I figured I'd come apologise for the way I behaved the other day. My assistant claims we got off on the wrong foot, and I hate to see that kind of thing happen."
Next to him, the woman takes her turn to roll her eyes. The man ignores it, instead offering a hand out to Naomi.
“And what can we do for you today, Inquisitor?” Naomi addressed the grinning man. Her gaze fell to his outstretched hand for a moment, then she looked back up incredulously with a deliberate pause before accepting his handshake.
“Guess there’s our answer,” Lyri mutters, looking over at the two. Given Naomi was the one offered a hand and addressed, she simply folds her arms over her chest and watches in silence.
The man’s grin sags a bit, letting out a bit of a sigh as he withdraws his hand. “That bad, huh? I suppose I really do owe you fi- three an apology.” He looks between the group, cocking an eyebrow. “There were more of you, yes? I’m not crazy?”
Letting the woman’s nod answer that question, he clears his throat and nods himself. “Nothing. The headmistresses gave us the report we wanted. I simply wished to apologise and introduce myself. Alexander Xenos,” he remarks with a bit of a bow, “And this lovely but silent lady is Aler Uros. I hear you’re headed to Axis, our home station. I wanted to extend an offer to come see us if you need anything once you get there.” He falls silent, Aler looking up at him questioningly. “You know. As an apology,” he adds once under her glare.
“We’ll keep it in mind and let the others know.” Naomi answered noncommittally, glancing at her companions for their agreement or comments.
“Thank you,” Aler says, offering a curtsy to the group. “And please, be careful.” She offers a smile, looking back over her shoulder. “Apparently there’s been some issues in the area lately. Not that we can…”
She’s interrupted by Alex, hands on his hips as he turns. “Something about shadows uprooting themselves, and a Preator assigned member of the Shining Hammer going missing. It all sounds a little far fetched to me, but still. Be safe.”
Aler’s hand reach up, fingers rubbing at her temples. “I’m going to have to re-educate you on the word confidential again, aren’t I?” she whines as he starts to walk off, offering a two fingered wave back to the others. She lets her shoulders slump, exhaling sharply as she turns and follows after him, the sounds of her quietly chastising him just able to be heard.